The Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield hotline below is activated during a disaster to assist Families and DA Civilians in getting the latest information on the installations and

to get the all-clear.

1-866-586-3116

Severe Weather

PreparednessGuide

Severe Weather

PreparednessGuide

Fort Stewart-Hunter Army AirfieldFort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield

20202020

The threat of severe weather to the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield community is real and warrants utmost attention for prepara-tion and action. It is important that we all know what to expect during one of these storms, and what to do to reduce the risk to our Families and ourselves.Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield Garrison staff is continuously striving to improve severe-weather preparedness throughout the installa-tion. These efforts include incorporating les-sons learned from previous events, results of exercises, and clearance time requirements.Over the last few years there has been a marked increase in public levels of hurricane aware-ness. This has been matched by a renewed ded-ication by this command and surrounding communities to collaborate to protect lives and property from the threat of tropical systems.Take appropriate preventive measures, and urge you to read this handbook that identifies changes and adapt your actions and checklists to your personal needs. Keep in mind that hur-ricanes, as well as tornados and thunder-storms, are destructive storms. Your safety could depend on your actions and preparations.Comments or questions concerning this hand-book should be addressed to the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security, 767-5038.

Stay prepared in 2020

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Hurricanes can cause widespread damage without ever making landfall. Tropical systems from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico have caused major flooding and damaging inland winds as far north as the mountain regions in Georgia. In addition, rapid popula-tion growth along the hurricane-prone coast-line increases the risk of loss of life and extreme property damage.

Everyone should take personal responsibility for taking appropriate preventive measures to prepare themselves and their Family in the event of a hurricane. Throughout this hand-book you will see numerous icons of activities, agencies or groups that provide assistance and ideas in getting prepared and dealing with the after effects of severe weather. Take the time to visit some of these web sites and prepare you and your Family for severe weather.

Intro

The senior commander makes all decisions requiring evacuation of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield. Local county emergency man-agement agencies decide on evacuation within their jurisdictions.Preparation is critical to success. Ensure you have an evacuation plan. Validate your infor-mation in ADPAAS. Build a kit with everything you and your family will need for three days during an evacuation.Be informed on weather conditions and all guidance from local community, your unit and the installation.Soldiers may have duties that prevent them from evacuating with their Families.On- and off-post Families should be prepared to evacuate to in land locations with or without their sponsors.

Pet owners must make proper arrangements for their pets during evacuations. This includes having enough water and food for each pet. The use of pet carriers is recom-mended and in some instances, mandatory.The garrison Facebook page at facebook.com/FortStewartHunterArmyAirfield is the official source of news, information and updates. Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield also posts information about severe weather such as tornados and hurricanes on the installation website at home.army.mil/stewart.

Hurricane Command Policy

Stewart-Hunter ADPAAS Team

David C. Curran (Program Manager)912-767-2160david.c.curran.civ@mail.mil

Darrick L. Menzie (Primary Contract Officer)912-767-6458darrick.l.menzie.civ@mail.mil

Walter L. Ellis (Alternate Contract Officer)912-315-2761walter.l.ellis.civ@mail.mil

The Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System is the U.S. Army's method/ process of accounting for person-nel and family members after catastrophes. ADPAAS is a web-based, mil-restricted, user-friendly system that enables the Army to col-lect accurate and timely reports in times of emergency.ADPAAS is maintained in accordance with a variety of Federal statutes, Department of Defense and Department of the Army regu-lations and policies.You need to go into ADPASS and validate your information. Correct your contact information for notification. Also, ensure the information for your dependents is accu-rate. You must be registered in ADPASSto receive an evacuation allowance.

ADPAAS enhances the Army's ability to accept accountability reporting from Soldiers, Army Civilians and Non-Appropriated Funds employees, overseas defense contractors, and their DEERS-eligible family members following natural or man-made disasters.It enables commanders at all levels to identify and account for those in their command affected by a disaster through consolidation of self-accounting and unit mass reporting through the ADPAAS tool.ADPAAS allows sponsors and Family mem-bers affected by a catastrophe to request assistance via a Needs Assessment Survey, which in turn helps leaders prioritize the where resources and assistance is needed the most.

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ADPAAS

ADPAAS.ARMY.MIL

Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Hurricane Readiness Conditions are based on the fore-casted arrival of a tropical storm or hurricane.

HURCON 5 – Normal operations. This is the advanced stage of readiness. This con-dition includes normal day-to-day opera-tions, planning, training and exercises. HURCON 5 goes into effect automatically on June 1 and remains until Nov. 30.

HURCON 4 – Sustained tropical force winds of 50 knots/58 mph or greater which have the potential to impact garrison area within 96 hours.

HURCON 3 – Sustained tropical force winds of 50 knots/58 mph or greater while have the potential to impact garrison area within 72 hours.

HURCON 2 – Sustained tropical force winds of 50 knots/58 mph or greater which have the potential to impact garrison area within 48 hours.

HURCON 1 – Sustained tropical force winds of 50 knots/58 mph or greater which have the potential to impact garrison area within 24 hours.

Landfall – Period between the 12 hours prior to arrival and final departure of sustained tropical winds of 50 knots/58 mph or greater.

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Hurricane Preparedness ConditionsHURCON

2020 Hurricane names

ArthurBerthaCristobalDollyEdouardFayGonzalo

HannaIsaiasJosephineKyleLauraMarcoNana

OmarPauletteReneSallyTeddyVickyWilfred

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Prepare for

Ensure that supplies needed are on hand.

Secure furnace rooms, storerooms, garage doors,etc. Covering with plywood is recom-mended.

Cover windows with plywood.

Store loose objects inside, i.e ., boxes, BBQ grills, garbage cans, toys, etc.

Secure objects outside of building, i.e ., boats,playground equipment, clothesline, etc.

Fill vehicle fuel tank.

Fill water containers, to include bathtubs, as the water supply may become inoperable orcontaminated.

Maintain a minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food and potable water.

If you have a power generator, do not connect it to your house power panel. Plug the items you intend to use directly into the generator.

Turn your refrigerator thermostat to its lowesttemperature.

Turn off all appliances with pilot lights, i.e ., stoves, furnaces, ranges, etc ., for the duration of the hurricane.

Turn off gas at the meter.

Based upon the projected storm track and intensity, the senior commander may decide that Soldiers residing in barracks will remain there and will encourage Families residing in on-post housing to remain in their housing.

Prior to the storm's arrival, the senior com-mander may decide that Soldiers residing in barracks will evacuate to other locations speci-fied by their respective chains of command. Soldiers and their Families residing in on-post housing will evacuate via privately owned vehicles to Georgia emergency shelters or other inland locations.

Soldiers and Family members residing off-post must follow the orders and directives of their respective local emergency management agency and evacuate to Georgia emergency shelters or other inland locations.

Reminder: Family members’ primary plan should be to evacuate without their spon-sor due to other duties they may have.

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Evacuation forEssential Personnel

Severe thunderstorms – high winds, hail and cloud-to-ground light-ning, can form spring through early fall.

Tornadoes – violent rotating column of wind speeds that can reach over 200 mph, form in thunderstorms generally during spring and fall. Tornadoes can occur at anytime throughout the year.

Flooding – heavy rainfall can cause localized flooding in low lying areas and can occur during any season if heavy rainfall occurs.

Stay alert for rapidly changing weather condi-tions via local television, local radio or NOAA weather radio.

Tornado warning sirens on the installation sound when a tornado is visually spotted and reported by a reliable source to the Installation Operation Center or the Air Force Weather Squadron issues a tornado warning for Stewart and Hunter. The IOC will sound the warning siren based on estab-lished criteria. These warnings may come only minutes before a tornado actually strikes. The warning is a steady 15-second tone followed by a voice message “Tornado Warning” and a civil siren for one minute, this is repeated twice. The "All Clear" signal is a 15-second tone followed by the “All Clear” message – this is repeated three times.

Soldiers, Family Members and Civilians may be anywhere when a tornado warning comes. Therefore, each individual Soldier, Family

Member and Army Civilian must prepare and rehearse the best method of protection based on their location.

Do not drive through low-lying areas or around barricades. You are liable if you ignore safety barricades and endanger yourself and others by driving through flooded roadways.

Stay hydrated and cool to prevent heat injuries during the summer months.

Stay away from windows and move inside to prevent being struck by lighting if thunder-storms are in the area.

Provide pets with shelter during any severe weather – they are just as vulnerable to the effects as we are.

Safety Measures

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FYI

(Call the Stewart-Hunter Information Hotline at 1-866-586-3116 to check conditio or status)

Tornado – Go to interior room or central shelter. Take shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued or has been spotted in the local area. Get under cover, downstairs in the center of house. Keep away from windows. • In a building – Go to an interior room - a hall, closet or bath, on the lowest floor. Ideally a basement. Stay away from windows and outside walls. Take shelter under heavy furniture or in a bathtub. Cover yourself with padding, mattress, pillows and blankets. Protect your head, face and eyes from flying or falling debris. • Outdoors – Lie down in a depression, ditch or culvert. Cover your head with your arms. •In a vehicle or mobile home – In a vehicle or mobile home is probably the worst place to be located during a tornado. Vehicles are easily tossed about by tornadoes, and fatali-

ties often result to occupants. Instead, leave the vehicle or mobile home. Seek shelter in a depression or in the nearest sturdy building. •In buildings with a large, free span roof – When in such a building as the Post Exchange, Commissary, or a gymnasium go to the nearest sturdy building or if time does not permit, seek shelter in interior rooms.Thunderstorm – Inside home or business, away from windows, seek shelter if warning is issued for local area.

Flooding – High ground, move toward high ground if flash flood warnings are issued for the local area.

Extreme Heat – Inside air conditioned home or business during heat of the day, refrain from outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during summer months.

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Prepare for Hurricane Force Winds

Georgia web site for inland shelters status

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency main-tains a web page to show the status of each state shel-ter. Only Open or Full shelters are displayed on this page. Contact your local emergency management agency or listen to local broadcast media before trav-eling to an emergency shelter to determine which shelters have actually been opened. Emergency shel-ters are opened only on an as needed basis.

Visit gema.ga.gov/ohsgemawebsh.nsfFullOpenShelters?OpenForm for updated and current information.

Seek Safety

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What you'll need

Water—at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days

Food—nonperishable food for at least three days; select items that require no cooking, preparation, or refrigeration such as high energy foods and ready-toeat canned meat, vegetables and fruit

Manual can opener

Reusable plates, cups, utensils, saucepan

First aid kit

Prescription medications and medical equip-ment/care aids

Personal sanitation supplies, such as moist tow-elettes, garbage bags and plastic ties

Hand-crank or battery-operated flashlight

Hand-crank radio or battery operated cellphone charger

Extra batteries

Brightly colored plastic poncho (can be used as

shelter, clothing or a marker)

Weather-appropriate clothing to keep your Fam-ily warm and dry

Cash

Any tools needed for turning off utilitiesLocal maps and your Family emergency plan

Important documents, including will, medical and financial power of attorney,property documents, medical instructions

Your command reporting information – know the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System (ADPAAS)

Here are the basics. Get more lists at Ready.Army.mil

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Be Prepared

If Soldiers and their Families are required to evacuate their residence, they should go to one of the primary or alternate shelters identified on the following map. Every Family should reg-ister each Family member arriving at the shelter. Alcoholic beverages or weapons of any kind

are not allowed into the shelters.

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Primary Hurricane Evacuation Routes and Inland Shelters

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The Peach State Radio is Georgia’s public radio sta-tion, which collaborates with Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and other agencies to pro-vide real time information to people during a hur-ricane. Tune to these FM radio frequencies in the following areas for severe weather information.

Albany – 91.7Dahlonega – 89.5Athens – 91.7/97.9Fort Gaines – 90.9Augusta – 90.7Macon – 89.7Brunswick – 88.9Rome – 97.7

Carrollton – 90.7Savannah – 91.1Chatsworth – 98.9Tifton – 91.1Columbus – 88.1Valdosta – 91.7Demorest – 88.3Waycross – 90.1

The following partial listing of weather and hurricane related web sites is provided for your information and access:

The Weather Channel – weather.com

National Weather Service – nws.noaa.gov

National Hurricane Center – nhc.noaa.gov

ReadyArmy website – ready.army.mil

Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield – home.army.mil/stewart

Severe weather notification service – emer-gencyemailnetwork.com

Federal Emergency Management Agency – fema.gov

Georgia Emergency Management Agency – gema.state.ga.us

American Red Cross – redcross.org

Hurricane-related web sites

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Stay infomred

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Extreme Weather Info Sheet

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Go West, Go Early

Evacuation RoutesChatham CountyState Route 21US 80 Interstate 16SR 204 to US 280

Bryan CountyHighway 144 to US 301 (Glennville)

Liberty CountyUS 84 to Highway 196 to Highway 301 (Glennville)

Courtesy photosTop left, right and above: The national weather service in Charleston SC has con-firmed a tornado touchdown on Fort Stewart in Liberty County, Feb. 3, 2016. Photo by Pat Young Left: WTOC Storm Chasers were a popular display, June 14, 2019, at the Liberty County Hurricane Preparedness Expo.

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The Tornado Touch